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I i|149tli Anniversary 

OF 

WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY. 



M. H TENNEY, West Washington. 






ADDRESS 



OF 



M^ILLIAM H. TENNEY. 



ADDRESS 



OF 

WILLIAM H. TENNEY, 

ON THE 

149th Anniversary 

OF 

WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY, 

DELIVERED FEBRUARY 23, 1881, 

BEFORE THE 

Oldest Inhabitants Association of Washington, D. C, 

AND 

PUBLISHED BY" ORDER OF THE ASSOCIATION. 



WASHINGTON, D. C. : 

RuFus H. Dabby, Printer. 

1881. 







7100 



ADDRESS. 



Mr. President and Members of the Oldest Inhabitants 
Association : 

I fee] flattered at being selected by you to deliver the 
animal address of the 22d of February. Although 
accustomed to debate from early manbood, I have never 
before attempted to deliver a formal address, and doubt 
my ability. I would have preferred that some other per- 
son had been your choice, but feel that it is a duty to 
comply with your wishes. Should I not be successful 
you will have to regret your partiality and overestimate 
of my qualifications. 

We have met to-day to commemorate the birthday 
of the Father of his country. 

"Washington needs no eulogy. His memory and his 
services are embalmed in our hearts; yet a brief repe- 
tition of his virtues so familiar to you all may not be 
amiss. It is well to allude to them to rekindle the fires 
of patriotism which should burn in our hearts. 

Washington was not the greatest man that ever lived, 
but he combined the rare qualities of greatness with 
goodness, and in that union he excelled Alexander, 
Csesar, or Napoleon. Unlike the first, he did not sigh 
for more worlds to conquer; and unlike the latter two, 
he could not be tempted to destroy the liberties of the 
country he had fought to attain. Washington's simple 



and unaffected manners, his refusal of any other com- 
pensation for his services than his actual expenses j his 
resigning his commission when the war was closed, and 
returning, like an jther Cincinnatus, to the pursuit of 
agriculture; his positive refusal, after he had again con- 
sented to serve his country, to receive more than two 
terms of the Presidency, thus establishing that unwrit- 
ten law of the Constitution, which is as precious to the 
hearts of the American people as the wisest of its pro- 
visions, are sacrifices unparalleled in the history of man- 
kind. 

Washington's farewell address, a priceless legacy, 
which you have just heard read, shows that though 
childless himself, in the largeness of his heart he 
adopted a whole nation as his children. I would 
strongh' impress upon your minds that portion of his 
address in which he solennily warns the people " against 
geographical discriminations, which would form parties 
that would disturb our Union — Northern and Southern, 
Atlantic and Western." In these sectional parties his 
prophetic vision foresaw that late and great civil war, 
which is now so auspiciously closed, with a Union 
remaining intact. African slavery, one of the great 
disturbing elements in the formation of the Constitution, 
was a compromise with other agreements that the im- 
portation i)f slaves should not be prohibited by Congress 
prior to the year 1808, As soon as Congress could pass 
a bill prohibiting the importation of slaves, that bill 
was enacted. It met with no factious opposition from 
Southern members in either house. That act met the 
approval of a President a native of Virginia. 



Slavery, a legacy from the mother country, was a 
source of great anxiety to the patriots of the revolution 
both North and South. The illustrious Washington did 
not approve of it, and by will emancipated his slaves. 
JelFerson pronounced it a curse, and predicted that it 
would call down the vengeance of the Supreme Being. 
If slavery was a sin, the North and the South were 
equally guilty. At the adoption of the Constitution, 
twelve out of the thirteen States were slave States. 
The North was essentially commercial, the South agri- 
cultural ; the North imported the slaves, which were sold 
to the South. The North, finding slave labor unprofita- 
ble, gradually abolished slavery. The South, by the in- 
vention of the cotton-gin, found the culture of cotton 
very profitable, and slave labor the cheapest, and in 
time honestly believed that slavery was a divine insti- 
tution. The North, finding slave labor did not pay, and 
the laws of the country forbidding further importation 
of slaves, came to the conclusion that slavery was a 
great moral wrong, so much dof^s pecuniary interest un- 
intentionally influence the best balanced minds and the 
most honest judgments. ■ In the course of time the 
revolutionary heroes passed away. " Generation suc- 
ceeded generation, but the Lord abideth forever." A 
new generation arose who "■ knew not Joseph," and for- 
getting the compacts of the Constitution, and forgetting 
the common brotherhood of the revolution, and that 
Washington commanded our armies, and that Corn- 
wallis surrendered at Yorktown, Va,, a society was 
formed that denounced the Constitution because it 
recognized slavery — like some of our modern sisters 



who ignore the sacred word because of the fiat of the 
Almighty, "Unto the woman he said: Thy desire shall 
be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." 

But notwithstanding the warning notes sounded by 
our illustrious Washington, in less than half a century 
sectional parties began to form. The South continued 
agricultural and the North added to its commerce manu- 
factories. The cotton States exported their principal 
staple, and wanted imports with revenue duties; the 
North, being stronger, enacted a protective tariff. One 
of the Southern States passed an ordinance nullifying 
the laws of the United States, and refused to pay duties 
on imports, but the firmness of President Jackson, and 
the conciliatory measures of Henry Clay, forced her to 
repeal that ordinance before others joined her, and thus 
was suppressed without bloodshed th& first attempt at 
secession, but not long afterward a cloud arose in the 
east, at first " not bigger than a man's hand," but filially 
overshadowed the whole Union, and deluged the land, 
not with water but with blood. 

The first great contention was for the Territories — 
whether they should become slave or free States. The 
passions of both sections became inflamed, and where 
passion prevails reason loses its sway; man approaches 
nearer the lower order of animals, and recedes farther 
and farther from the image of the Creator. The 
North would never have consented to have enacted a 
law to make compensation for emancipation; nor would 
the South have accepted the offer. Yet the abolish- 
ment of slavery cost the United States more than 
$1,000 for every man, woman and child emancipated. 



9 

But this was the least of its evils; homes were left 
desolate all over the land. *' And the sins of the fathers 
were visited upon the children unto the third and fourth 
generation." One great question was settled by the 
war, a question of gi-eat interest to the whole Union, 
and especially to the citizens of Washington city — the 
right of a State to secede. There is nothing in the 
Constitution which either in word, inference, or by idea, 
admits of any such right ; to have conceded such would 
have been national suicide. Yet the Southern States 
had always contended for this among other State rights. 
The arbitrament of the sword has settled that question, 
and the Union now rests on a firmer basis than ever. 
The tendency of parties is to run into extremes. The 
South made the grave error of claiming the right of 
secession. The dominant party of to-day makes a like 
great error in ignoring State rights. Ours is a govern- 
ment of limited powers specifically defined by the Con- 
stitution, and all powers not granted are reserved to the 
States and the people. It is to be regretted that by a 
late amendment the right to regulate suffrage by each 
State (which originally existed) was in an important 
exception denied. The evil effects of that amendment 
have been experienced in a continual sectional irrita- 
tion, although slavery has been abolished. 

The past cannot be recalled, but all good citizens will 
unite in devising some means to make the future har- 
monious, either by an educationaror some other qualifi- 
cation as a prerequisite to suffrage. The powers granted 
the United States were sutficient to carry the nation 
through two foreign and one civil war. A government 



10 

by the people has been found by experience to be the 
strongest government in the world. Our Congress, 
with its limited powers, is preferable to the parliament 
of Great Britain, exercising power at the present time 
in upholding an oppressive landed aristocracy and grind- 
ing the faces of the poor tenants. It is also preferable 
to the French legislature, representing one great state 
and muzzling the press, and interfering with religious 
hberty and the rights of conscience, '- E pluribus 
unum " has been our motto, and may it be so forever. 

Each State harmoniously revolves in its own orbit. 
Our sun, the Congress of the United States, is the grand 
centre around which each revolves. Union without 
centralization is the most perfect union, Washington 
and the framers of the Constitution and the people of 
that day so decided. After the adoption of the Consti- 
tution the District of Columbia was selected as the seat 
of government, and it is the only place where Congress 
has exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, except- 
ing forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards, and other 
needful buildings. The plan of the city of Washington 
was laid out on a magnillcent scale, with a wise fore- 
sight of its future greatness. Its broad streets and 
noble avenues differ greatly from the contracted spaces 
of older cities; its reservations, its circles, its triangles, 
made by the intersection of streets with avenues, are 
lungs through which a free people breathe. 

Washington, up to fhe war with Great Britain, was 
largely dependent on Georgetown, its elder sister, 
whence it obtained all its supplies. Washington belles 
did all their shopping there. The old Union (now the 



11 

West End Hotel) was the great hotel of the District; 
it was thronged with merobers of Congress and other 
guests; its stables were filled with the best horses, for 
in those primitive days equestrianism was the rule and 
vehicles the exception. The great statesman of Ken- 
tucky rode on horseback to Washington. Henry Clay, 
who " would rather be right than President," was among 
the distinguished guests who boarded at the Union Hotel. 

Even in my boyhood I remember that not a water- 
melon, or a sweet potato, or an oyster, a shad, or a 
herring, were landed at Washington. Our harbor was 
crowded with pungies and oyster-boat^, from whence 
Washington was supplied. The wholesale grocers of 
Georgetown supplied nearly all the retail grocers of 
Washington; but this has changed, and the reverse is 
the ease. 

Georgetown has her history; she was created a town 
in 1751, and chartered as a city in 1789. The same 
year George Washington was inaugurated our first 
President. Georgetown had a large commerce coast- 
wise, and also traded with the West Indies, Europe, 
and the East Indies. All this has now ceased except 
the coastwise trade, which is quite extensive, its 
principal exports being coal, flour and grain. Among 
her merchants were Ehsha Riggs, since of New York, 
now deceased, and George Peabody, since of London, 
also deceased, who left his memorial, the " Peabody 
Library." Edward M. Linthicum, one of her promi- 
nent merchants, left his memorial, the " Linthicum In- 
stitute." Among her citizens was the author of "The 
Star Spangled Banner," afterwards District Attorney. 



12 

Among those born in Georgetown were George W. 
Riggs, W. W. Corcoran, now of Washington, and Eobt. 
Ould, now of Richmond, Va. 

Washington increased. Georgetown remained sta- 
tionary for thirty years. The trade from Wasliington, 
which helped to enrich Georgetown, almost entirely 
ceased. During these changes there was jealousy be- 
tween the two sisters, and the younger triumphed over 
the elder, no uncommon thing in these days, as every 
daughter has not a Laban for her father. 

Georgetown has been celebrated for her beautiful 

heights and her more beautiful women. The Count 

Bodisco, minister from Russia, took from among her 

fairest daughters his bride. 

" E'en the slight harebell raised its head 
Elastic from her airy tread." 

There are still plenty of fair young maidens left, who, 
like Milton's Eve, 

•' Would be wooed and not unsought be won." 
As time progressed the jealousy between the two 
cities increased, and even the boys entertained it. Many 
a stone battle has been fought at the Bridge street 
bridge, and, like another " Lodi," was hotly contested, 
with this difierence, that sometimes one and sometimes 
the other was compelled to retreat. 
" Lands which a narrow creek divide, 
Which else like kindred drops had mingled into one.*' 

Among the principal points of contention was the 
construction of the Long Bridge in 1807. George- 
town protested and held indignation meetings, and C3n- 
tinued to protest, until 1861, when military necessity 



13 

required the use of the bridge. What is not singular 
in the mutations of time, Washington is now protest- 
ing against the Long Bridge. "Nemesis has indeed 
wings, but does not always use them; but the slower her 
foot, the harder is her hand." 

Georgetown has always been celebrated for her liter- 
ary institutions; among these "The College," "The 
Ladies' Academy," and Miss English's Seminary. In 
the latter was educated Miss Jessie Benton, afterward 
the wife of J. C. Fremont, the first Republican candi- 
date for the Presidency. But Providence postponed the 
election of a Republican President four years, and gave 
us the good and great Abraham Lincoln, the martyr 
President, the second Washington. 

Georgetown still sustains her high literary reputa- 
tion. The Georgetown College continues, enlarged 
and improved. The Ladies' Academy flourishes more 
than ever, and the Collegiate Listitute for young ladies 
conducted by Miss Stephenson are a credit to our city. 
Excuse these reminiscences of the town in which I was 
born and have lived for nearly two-thirds of a century; 
I love her as a Swiss loves his native hills. 

My first memories of Washington city are in the first 
ward; north of Pennsylvania avenue and adjoining 
Georgetown; of clay hills and hollows, with here and 
there a shanty, disfiguring any landscape ; south of 
Pennsylvania avenue, extensive cow-pastures ; east 
of Holmead's burying-ground the slashes, an under- 
growth of wood, with cowpaths in which to wander; 
Pennsylvania avenue, with its row of Lombardy pop- 
lars, from the Capitol to the Marsh or Center market. 



14 

Washington was called "■ the city of magnificent dis- 
tances," Until about ten years since it was a scattered 
city, with its public buildings like exotics in its midst. 

There was an Alexander the Great, and there was 
another Alexander, the genius of the Board of Public 
"Works. He spread his magic wand, and lo! all was 
changed — 

'' The desert blossomed as a rose." 

The streets and avenues of the city were parked, graded 
and sewered, under a comprehensive system. Wash- 
ington became a city worthy of the name of George 
"Washington. But for the untiring etforts of Alexan- 
der R. Shepherd, Reavis might have found '^a fulcrum 
on which to rest his lever," and the Capitol might have 
been removed. If that ever occurs another Gibbon 
will write the decline and fall of the United States of 
America. All honor to Alexander R. Shepherd. The 
citizens of the District and the whole nation owe him 
a debt of gratitude. Georgetown and Washington are 
now^ one city. A rose would not lose its fragrance by 
a change of name; so our romantic heights and our soci- 
ety will not change. The witty Donn Tiatt called us 
the '•' aristocratic cemetery." We are not ashamed of 
the name. Oak Hill, with its grand scenery unsurpassed 
by any necropolis in the Union, is among the many evi- 
dences of the liberality of W. W. Corcoran. 

Our city will add to the area and increase the popu- 
lation of Washington. The time is coming, and some 
of our grandchildren will live to see it, when the limits 
of the national metropolis will include nearly the whole 
county. Her population will exceed half a million; 



15 

and the Potomac flats filled, her wharves, extending 
from the Aqueduct Bridi^e to the Navy Yard, will he 
lined with river and sea-going vessels. We have lived 
in an eventful and progressive age. In our youth there 
was but one steamboat, the " Surprise," making two 
trips daily to Alexandria from Georgetown, and the 
old steamboat " Columbia," still in existence, making a 
weekly trip to the Potomac landings, Baltimore and 
return. Steamboats were in their infancy; sea-going 
boats unknown. The telegraph, railroads, and tele- 
phones did not exist in the wildest imaginations. Even 
the little friction-match was not in use, and many a per- 
son has cut his knuckles on a cold morning in igniting 
tinder with a flint and steel, and using a brimstone 
match. Even anthracite coal was no' in use. Greater 
progress has been made in mechanical and useful arts 
in the present century than was made in half a dozen 
centuries preceding this. How much more the finite 
mind can accomplish it is impossible to foretell. 

But, gentlemen, I weary you with my lucubrations. 
Old men are garrulous, and I conclude with again 
reminding you of the virtues of Washington, acknowl- 
edged by the whole civilized world. Let us imitate his 
character, his unselfish patriotism. We are old men, 
and when we come to die, while we will not be 
mourned by an entire people, we will be mourned by 
otir relatives, our friends, and by every member of the 
Oldest Inhabitants Association. 



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